Portable elevator



E. N. HESCOCK AND E. F. SMITH.

PORTABLE ELEVATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1920.

1,406,86() Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

. 4/5 TUE E. N. HESCOCK AND E. F. SMITH.

PORTABLE ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. !6, 1920.

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ETHAN N. HFJSCOOK, OF WESTFIELD, NEVT JERSEY, AND ERNEST F. SMITH, OF WOOIL HAVEN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS '39 NEW FOUNDRY & MACHINE COM- PANY, A CORPGRATION OF NEW' JERSEY PORTABLE icense.

Application filed February 16, 3.920.

To 17] HZZOH? 7'15 may concern:

Be it known that we. ETHAN N. lrlnsoooir, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Vi estiield. in the county of Union and State of llew Jersey, and Ennns'r F. iflivrrrir, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVoodhaven, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Portable Elevators, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accmnpanying drawings.

huinvention relates to portable elevators and more particularly to means to positively insure that the elevator, when in use, shall be stabilized.

Our invention relates also to locking the hoist mechanism. Our invention further relates to automatically operating the locking mechanism and stabilizing means by raising and lowering a. portion of the elevator.

Our invention further relates to using a portion oi the traction means to automatically bring into play either or both the locking and stabilizing mechanism. Our invention further relates to employing a rotative member to raise and lower a portion of the elevator carriage and also to automatically operate t ie locking mechanism.

(lur invention further relates to a cam yokein combination with a caster wheel and caster wheel fork provided with a swivel pin, and locking mechanism directly coop crating with the swivel pin.

(lur invention further relates to certain combinations, sub-combinations and details of construction which will be more fully hereinafter described and. pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings the same reference numerals refer to similar parts in the di'lierent figures.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved portable elevator with certain parts omitted. for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view on an enlarged scale, partly broken away, of the castor wheel and its connected parts;

Fig. 4 is a detail, partly in section, showing the cooperation of the pawl and the cam carried by the rotative member;

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELEVATOR.

It atentecl Feb. 14, 1922.

Serial No. 358,870.

g. 5 a vertical section on the line 55 of 1g. a;

a L (3 is perspective view of the catch :l'or holding the handle;

arrow 1* '5. fit) is a vertical detail section on the hue lO-lO of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of another modified term of our invention;

'Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation showing still another form of our invention.

it is well known that one or" the chiefob- I JOBS to portable elevators is that they are 'not stable or rigid when in operation. These portable elevators must be easily movable from place to place in the warehouse, factory, dock, or other place where they are used. By our invention, without lessening the mobility of the movable elevator, or increasing its weight, we positively insure that it will be stable when the hoist mechanism isioperated to lift the load. It is, of course. understood that a comparatively small movement or oscillation at the base or carriage will be greatly multiplied as the platform is raised. Such wobbling or oscillation, when the platform is in its raised position is extremely dangerous as the load apt to tip or tall oil the platform with serious injury to the workmen, and possible danger or injury to the load, depending up on the :haracter of the goods being stacked or raised at that time.

liy oininvention we absolutely eliminate such oscillation or \vobbling oi the plator of the elevator while the hoisting mechanism is being operated.

@ur elevator comprises the usual carriage 1, with the traction wheels 2, 2 and 3, the latter being mounted as a castor wheel to permit ready handling and manipulation of the movable elevator in restricted passages or other locations in which it is used. lVe

also employ a vertical upright 4, winding drum 5, movable platform 6, crank 7, gear wheels 8, 9, 10 and 11, which may be of any approved construct-ion the same forming the hoisting mechanism to operate the drum 5.

In our preferred construction we provide the elevator frame 12 with the fixed bracket 13, the underside of the bracket being formed with fixed cams 14, 14 to cooperate with the movable cams 15, 15 on the rotative member 16 mounted on the castor wheel fork 17, Fig. 3, the swivel pin 18 passing through the rotat-ive member 16 and acting as an axle or arbor for it. This r'otative member 16 is provided with teeth 19, which cooperates with the teeth 20 on the castor wheel yoke 21, which is operated by the handle 22. Both the castor wheel fork 17 and the castor wheel yoke 21 are mounted upon the axle 23.

To prevent the oscillation or wobbling of the elevator with the consequent danger to the workmen and the load we provide the elevator with any suitable stabilizing means. Various forms of stabilizing means may be employed. lVe have shown the carriage 1 provided with feet or legs 2-4, 24 one at each forward end of the carriage 1. By our invention we insure that the raising and lowering of a portion of the elevator will automatically operate the stabilizing means to bring them into their operative or inoperative position as the case may be.

From the,mechanism so far described, it will be clear that by swingingup the handle 22 the teeth 20 upon the castor wheel yoke 21 will cooperate with the teeth 19 upon the rotat-ive member 16, which will. cause thelatter member to partially rotate, causing its movable cams 15, 15 to ride upon thefixed cams 14, 14 carried by the bracket 13 secured to the elevator frame. This will cause the forward portion of the carriage 1 to be lifted slightly from the floor 25 thereby freeing the stabilizing devices, which, in this case, are shown as fixed feet 24, 24. The elevator will then be in the position shown in Fig. 1, ready to be moved to a new location.

Having reached the new position on the floor, of the dock, warehouse, orwherever it is desired to use it. the handle 22, is swun g up which will again cause the teeth 20 to cooperate with the teeth 19 and cause the cam surfaces 15.15 and 14, 14 to move upon each other in the opposite. direction, which will. permit the forward portion of the can riage 1 to drop slightly to permit the stabilizing feet 24, 24 to come int-o contact with the floor. In this position the carriage is supported at four points, by two of. the feet 24, 24 on the forward. portion of the carriage, and by the traction means 2, 2 on the rear portion of the carriage. In this position of the parts, the elevator is stabilized.

To make the elevator fool-proof, so that it cannot be operated to raise the plat form 6 without first stabilizing the elevator, we use some form of locking mechanism co operating with the hoist mechanism which normally locks the hoist mechanism until the elevator has been stabilized.

We have shown for example in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, the rotative member 16 provided with another cam 26 which cooperates with the end 27 of the pawl 28, the other end 29 normally engaging with the teeth of the gear wheel 11. Any suitablemeans may be used to insure this engagement such as the sprin 30. This pawlis pivoted on the frame by the pin 31.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the cam surface 26 is moved out of contact with the end 27 of the pawl 28, see full lines in Figs. 4 and 5. In this position it is impossible to operate the hoist mechanism. When, however, the handle 22 is swung up from the position shown in Fig. 1, so as to rotate the rotative member 16 and bring the stabilizing means into their operative position, this action will automatically cause the cam 26 on the rotative member 16 to move under the arm 27 of the pawl, (see dotted lines in Figs. 4 and and rock it against the action of the spring 30, thereby releasing the pawl from engagement with the. gear 11, so that the hoist mechanism can then be operated.

The handle 22 may be secured in its inoperative position by any suitable means, such as by the catch 32 secured to the frame 12. This catch has a bent hook 33, which snaps into position to hold the handle 22, as shown in Fig. 6.

Instead of using a rotative member in connection with the castor wheel yoke, we may raise and lower the carriage directly by means of a cam yoke 34, Figs. 7, 8, and 10. In this form of our invention a rigid bracket 35 is secured to the frame 36, and through this bracket passes the swivel pin 37 of the castor wheel fork 38. which fork is mounted upon the axle 39. The cam yoke 34 is also mounted upon. the axle 39 and straddlesthe caster wheel fork 38. In this cam yoke the radius from the axle 39 to the point 40 is greater than the radius from the axle 39 to the point 41. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 7, the cam yoke has lifted thebracket 35 and with it the front end. of the carriage 1 thereby freeing the stabilizing feet 24, 24 from contact withthe floor In this position of, the parts the elevator. can be moved around the floor at will. 7

We preferably providemeans operated by the swivel pin 37 to lock thehoist mechanism. Various forms of such locking mechanism may be used which will preventthe operation of the hoisting mechanism until the stabilizing means have been brought into operation. We have shown two or three examples or modifications of such locking mechanisms, but it is to be distinctly understood that our invention is not to be confined to the particular forms shown in our appli cation by way of example.

In Fig. 7, we mount a pawl 42 on the frame 36 by means of the pin 43, one end ti of this pawl being brought over the swivel pin 37, the other end 45 being bent and pro vided with a tooth engaging with the teeth of the gear wheel 11. A spring 4:6 normally holds the end 45 of the pawl in contact with the gear wheel 11, thereby normally locking the hoist mechanism.

When the elevator has been brought into position where it is desired to operate the hoist mechanism, this mechanism cannot be operated until the end 45 of the pawl has been made to disengage the gear wheel ll. To do this, however, it is necessary to bring the handle 22 from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8, which will bring the stabilizing means 2%, 2% into contact with the floor 25, thereby stabilizing the elevator. As the pawl is pivoted to the frame 36 and moves with it, the end at, as the frame drops, will contact with the swivel pin 37, which will cause the pawl to rock upon the pivot 43 and compress the spring 46 and release the end 4-5 from the gear wheel 11. The handle 22 may be secured in this position by any suitable means, as by the catch 32.

We have shown a little different arrangement in Fig. 11, in which the swivel pin 37 cooperates with an arm 47 on the rod 4-8, carried in bearings 49, 49 on the frame 36. The upper end of this rod connects with a pivoted pawl 50, the other end 51 of the pawl engages with the teeth on the gea wheel 9. The spring 52 serves to normally press the end 51 of the pawl in contact with the gear wheel 9.

We also show another modification of our invention in Fig. 1'2, wherein the swivel pin 37 cooperates with the foot 53, carried by the rod 54, the other end of the rod being provided with a rigid arm 55, which is nor mally pressed into engagement with the gear wheel 9 by means of the spring 56.

Having thus described this invention in connection with illustrative embodiments thereof, to the details of which we do not desire to be limited, what is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is 1. In a portable elevator the combination of stabilizing means, hoisting mechanism, means to tilt a portion of the elevator, looking means to lock said hoisting mechanism, and means normally connecting the locking mechanism and stabilizing means to bring the locking mechanism and stabilizing means alternately into operative position.

2. In a portable elevator the combination of fixed stabilizing means, hoisting mechanism, means to tilt a portion of the elevator, locking means to lock said hoisting mechanism, and means normally connecting the locking mechanism and stabilizing means to bring the locking mechanism and stabilizing means'alternately into operative posi tion.

8. In a portable elevator the combination of stabilizing means, immovable with relation to the elevatonhoisting mechanism, means to tilt a portion of the elevator, looking means to lock said hoisting mechansm, and means normally connecting the locking mechanism and stabilizing means to bring the locking mechanism and stabilizing means alternately into operative position.

l. In a portable elevator the combination of hoisting mechanism, feet carried by the elevator to contact with the floor, locking means to lock the hoist mechanism, and rotative means cooperating with the locking means to raise and lower the elevator to bring the feet and locking mechanism into their operative positions alternately.

5. In a portable elevator, the combination of hoisting mechanism, locking mechanism, a castor wheel, acastor wheel yoke, a rotative member operated by the yoke, said member operating the locking mechanism.

6. In a portable elevator, the combination of hoisting mechanism, locking mechanism, stabilizing means, a castor wheel, a castor wheel yoke, a rotative member operated by the yoke, said member operating the locking mechanism, and the stabilizing means.

7. In a portable elevator the combination of hoisting mechanism, locking mechanism, a castor wheel, a castor wheel yoke, a rotative member operated by the yoke and provided with means to tilt the elevator to operate the locking mechanism.

8. In a portable elevator the combination of stabilizing means, a castor wheel, a castor wheel yoke, a rotative member operated by the yoke, said rotative member being provided with means to tilt the elevator to bring the stabilizing means into operative and inoperative position.

9. In a portable elevator the combination of stabilizing means, hoist mechanism, lookingmechanism, a castor wheel, a castor wheel yoke, a rotative member operated by the yoke, said rotative member being provided with means to tilt the elevator to bring the stabilizing means and locking mechanism into operative position.

10. In a portable elevator the combination of hoist mechanism, a castor wheel, a castor wheel fork provided with a swivel pin, a castor wheel yoke provided with gear teeth, a rotative member mounted on the swivel -&

pin and provided with gear teeth to cooperate with the gear teeth on the yoke, said rotative member being also provided with means to raise and lower aportion of the elevator and with a member to operate a pawl, and a pawl adapted to engage with the hoist mechanism and to be operated by the rotative member.

11. In a portable elevator the combination of hoist mechanism, a castor wheel, a castor wheel fork provided with a swivel pin, a castor wheel yoke provided with gear teeth, a rotative member mounted on the swivel pinand provided with gear teeth to cooperate with the gear teeth on the yoke, said rotative member being also provided with cam surfaces to cooperate with camsurfaces on the elevator to tilt a portion of the elevator and also provided with means to operate a locking device for the hoist mechanism, cam surfaces carried by the elevator frame and cooperating with the cam surfaces on the rotative member, and a locking device operated by the rotative member.

12. In a portable elevator the combination of stabilizing means, hoist mechanism, a castor wheel, a castor wheel fork provided with a swivel pin, a castor wheel yoke provided with gear teeth, a rotative member mounted on the swivel pin and provided with gear teeth to cooperate with the gear teeth on the yoke, said rotative member being also provided with means to raise and lower a portion of the elevator to operate the stabilizing means and with a member to operate a pawl, and a pawl adapted to engage with the hoist mechanism and be operated by the rotative member.

13. In a portable elevator the combination of stabilizing means, hoist mechanism, a castor wheel, a castor wheel fork provided with a swivel pin,a castor wheel yoke provided with gear teeth, a rotative member mounted on the swivel pin and provided with gear teeth to cooperate with the gear teeth on the yoke, said rotative member being also provided with cam surfaces to cooperate with cam surfaces on the elevator to raise and lower the same to operate the stabilizing means, and also provided with means to operate a locking device for the hoist mechanism, cam surfaces carried by the elevator frame and cooperating with the cam surfaces on the rotative member, and a locking device operated by the rotative member.

ETHAN N. HESCOOK. ERNEST F. SMITH.

lVitnesses':

J. A. SOHWEITZER, REUBEN IRWIN. 

